Man, 26, has to be rescued after getting trapped inside controversial sculpture

16 April 2023 , 02:21

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A man was rescued after getting trapped inside the famous Talus Dome sculpture (Image: Getty)

A man had to be rescued by firefighters in Canada after getting trapped inside a large controversial public art sculpture.

But the happy ending turned sour for the grateful chap after the 26-year-old was promptly charged with one count of mischief over $5,000, with a possible prison term awaiting.

The Talus Dome, in Edmonton, Alberta, made up of more than 1,000 handcrafted metal balls stacked into a mound, has divided opinion among local residents since its installation in 2011.

Artists Benjamin Ball and Gaston Nogues created the piece of art that mimics piles of rock or gravel and it is located next to the Quesnell Bridge. And according to the city’s public art website: “It refers to the coexistence of the man-made and the natural.”

One interested onlooker, though, got too close to the sculpture and slipped through an opening in the structure as he attempted to climb it.

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The Talus Dome sculpture was damaged after freeing the man from inside

A passer-by noticed that someone was stuck inside so called the emergency services, with three crews of firefighters having to break out some heavy-hitting rescue equipment to free the man, including the tool known as the ‘jaws of life’, which is usually reserved for car accidents.

Troy Brady, district chief of Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, said: “It’s definitely different than what we would typically use [the jaws of life] for.”

Sadly, the art installation did not emerge unscathed from the incident, with the firefighters having to cut into the structure and remove one of the spheres to get the unharmed man out.

Edmonton resident Hans Klaver, whose interest was piqued after discovering the incident on social media, was an interested observer, saying: “I like the balls, one of the few people who do, so I came down to have a look.

“There was a guy inside there.”

Another local, Connor Schwindt, was out jogging when he spotted the incident, so he got his phone out and recording the scenes. His Instagram video has gone viral.

“It’s so Edmonton,” Schwindt said. “I think it’s pretty funny that something like this has happened, and I was there to witness it.

“I feel like I’ve been a part of Edmonton history and lore.”

Dominic Picksley